Personal History:

Research Interests:

The research projects are mainly focused on the mechanism of kynurenic acid, a broad spectrum antagonist at excitatory amino acid receptors and particularly at the strychnine-insensitive glycine site of NMDA receptors, involved in physiological modulation of the neurotransmitters and in the etiology of neurodegeneration, drug addiction, and epilepsy. Various animal models, mostly in vivo in freely moving animals, are used to monitor the endogenous levels of kynurenic acid by brain microdialysis, the electroencephalographic pattern and the histological changes with different pharmacological treatment. Studies on kynurenate-related agents which influence the kynurenine pathway and are shown potential effects of neuroprotection and anticonvulsion are also conducted.